Signal valve device



Aug. 25, 1931.

J. C. M CUNE S IGNAL VALVE DEVICE Filed May 16, 1950 V V 5 l2 20INVENTOR JOSEPH G. MCOUNE ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 25, 1931 UNITED STATESPATENT-()FFICE JOSEPH C. MGCUNE, 01' EDGEWOOD, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TOTHE WESTINGHOUSE AIR BRAKE COMPANY, OF WILMERDING, PENNSYLVANIA, ACORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA SIGNAL VALVE DEVICE Application filed May16, 1930. Serial Nae-52,885.

This invention relates to signal systems, and more particularly to afluid pressure railway train signal system;

An object of the invention is to provide an 5 improved fluid pressureoperatedsignal valve device.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide 'a fluid pressureoperated signal valve device which is more sensitive in operation thanthe signal valve devices heretofore in use. 1

Another object of the invention is to provide a signal valve device ofthe above type which is adapted to operate upon a smaller reduction influid pressure than that heretofore required.

Another object of the invention is to pro-.

vide an improved signal valve device of the character mentioned whichissimple in con struction, and reliable and exact in function under allconditions of service.

The'invention also comprises certain new and useful improvements inthe-construction, i? arrangement and combination of the several parts ofwhich it is composed, as willbe hereinafter more fully described andclaimed,

In the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 is a diagrammatic View of a fluidpressure train signal system as applied to a locomotive and a car of atrain, and embodying the invention; and Fig.2 is a vertical section ofthe signal valve device. 7

Referring to the drawings, in the fluid .,,pressure train signal systemas now em-,

" ployed, a train signal pipe 6 extends through the train, .the trainpipe being connected between cars by means of the usual flexible hoseand couplings. V

On the locomotive, a signal valve device 7 is provided which is subjectto the pressure of fluid which is normally carried in the train signalpipe 6. A suitable discharge valve 8 may be connectedto the train signalpipe 011 the locomotive and each car of the train, for

thepurpose of eflecting a'reduction in signal pipe pressure. When thepressure in the signal pipe is reduced at any point in the train, thesignalvalve device on the locomotive is operated to blow a whistle orother signal indicating device.

, shown in Fig. 1.

As shown in- Fig. 2, the signal valve device 7 may comprise a suitablecasing havinga chamber 9. A cover plate 10 is secured to the upper faceof the casing and clamped between the cover plate and the casing is aflex ible diaphragm 11. v

Cavity 12, formed in the cover plate 10, above the diaphragm 11, isconnected, through a restricted port 13 with a pipe 14, which in turn isconnected to the signal pipe 6, as

A second chamber 15, is also formed in the casing; This chamber extendsfrom the cover plate 10 to the base of the casing.v The portion of thechamber 15 disposed in the cover plate 10 is separated from the cavity12 by a web 16. The portion of the chamber 15 at the base of the casingis sealedfrom chamber 9 bya flexible diaphragm 17, which is clamped tothe casing at its periphery by a ring 18 and studs 19.

Chamber 15 is connected with the cavity 12 V in the cover plate 10,through a restricted port 20, and said chamber is also. connected withthe chamber 9, near the base of the casing, through a restricted port21. As shown, the area of the port .21 is less than the area of the port20, for a purpose'to be hereinafter more fully described. v V

Secured at the upper end to the diaphragm 11 and at the lower end to thediaphragm 17 V is a stem or rod 22 and carried by and below thediaphragm 17 is a poppet valve 23. adapted to engage a seat provided ina bushing 24:, for controlling the venting of fluid from the chamber 15to a pipe 25, which leads to the usual signal. whistle 26. V

The upper portion of the stem 22 is formed With a longitudinal openingor bore 27 in which is mountedv a valve 28 adapted to engage a seatprovided in a bushing 29 mounted in the stem and projecting through thecavity 12 and terminating in the upper portion of the chamber 15. Thevalve 28 is normally maintained seated by a spring 30 also mounted inthe bore 27. The bore 27 is connected to the chamber 9,"by a passage 31which con-. tains a ball check valve 32 to prevent back flow.

The valve 28 is provided. with a fluted stem which is adapted to beengaged by a rod 33 fixed to the casing. In order that the relativepositions of the valve stem and the rod 33 can be adjusted, ascrew-threaded plug 34 is mounted in the cover plate 10, and this plugis provided with a threaded opening 35 adapted to receive the enlargedthreaded portion 36 of the rod 33. The rod 33 projects downwardlythrough the plug 34: and also through the upper open end of the bushing29'. The top of the rod 33 is provided with a slot to receive a screwdriver or other tool for rotating the rod so that the lower end of therod can be properly spaced from the upper end of the stem of the valve28 when the parts of the device are being assembled. The rod 33 may besecured in its adjusted position by a suitable lock nut 37.

Since the upper end of the rod 33 projects above the top of the coverplate 10, in order of the port 21 is less than. the flow area of theport 20, chamber 9 will be charged at a slower rate than the chamber 15is charged from the signal pipe.

In order to signal the engineer, a car discharge valve 8 on a car of thetrain is operated in the usual manner to vent fluid from the signal pipe6. A reduction. in fluid pres sure is thus effected in the cavity 12otthe signal valve device 7 on the locomotive, and since the pressurein. cavity 12. is reduced at a greater rate than fluid canpflow from thechamber 9 through therestricted port 21,. the

higher fluid pressure in chamber 9 will act to deflect the diaphragmllupwardly.

The upward movement of the diaphragm 11 carries the valve 28 upwardly,so that the stem of said valve engages the end. of the rod 33 and thevalve is unseated.

Since the valve 23 is also carried by the diaphragm stem: 22, the valve23 is also unseated. Fluid under pressure is then supplied from the chamber 15 to pipe 25 and thus the whistle 26 is blown to signal theengineer,

As soon as the valve 28 is unseated', fluid under pressure flows fromthe chamber .9,

through passage 31 in the stem- 22,. and past the ball check valve 32and the valve 28, to chamber 15.

The pressure drops more quickly in chamher 9 under the diaphragm 11 thanin the cavity 12, due to the port 20' restricting the flowirom. cavity12. Therefore, as soon as an amount of pressure slightly in excess ofthe reduction in cavity 12 has been vented from the chamber 9, thepressure under the diaphragm 11 will be less than that above thediaphragm, and therefore the diaphragm will move downwardly and closethe valves 23 and 28. The flow of fluid under pressure to the. whistlewill thus cease and the chamber 9 will be recharged to the same pressurein chamber 15 and cavity 12 in the manner heretofore described.

In order'to stabilize the diaphragm '11 against improper action, due toslight variations of train pipe pressure caufse'dby leakage, andthelike, a spring 10 is interposed between the plug 34 and the bushing 29.

This spring should be very light so as to prevent slight deflections ofthe diaphragm 11 whichmay becaused by slight orunintentional variationsin fluid pressures on theoppositesides of said diaphragm. V

The flow area of the r restricted port- 20 should be less than the flowrate through the bushing 29, so thatthe diaphragm 11 will move downpromptlyand close the valves 23' and 28, when tllGPIQSSUlG {thecavity12slightly exceeds the pressure in the chamber 9, it being understood thatthe restricted port signal valve device comprising a diaphragmsubject tothe opposing pressures of the signal pipe and a chamber, asecondchamber, a restricted port through which the second chamberis'charged with fluid under pressure from the signal pipe, arestrictedport through which the first chamber is charged with fluidunder pressure from said second chamber, a valve, operated by saiddiaphragm for controlling a communication from the first chamber to thesecond chamher, andia,

signalcontrol'l'in'g valve. operated by said diaphragm for venting fluidfrom saidsecond chamber.

2. In a fluid pressurepsig-nal' system, the combination with a trainsignal pipe, of a signal valve device comprising a diaphragm subjecttothe opposingpressures of the signal' pipe" and a chamber,,a secondchamber,.a

restricted; port through which the second chamberis charged with fluidunder pressure from the signal P1136, arestricted port through which thefirstchamber is charged with fluid. under pressure from: said secondchamber, a valve operated by said diaphragm my invention, what forventing fluid from said first chamber to said second chamber, and asignal controlling valve, for venting fluid from said second chamber.

3. In a fluid pressure signal system, the combination with a trainsignal pipe, of a signal valve device comprising a diaphragm subject tothe opposing pressures of the signal pipe and a chamber, a secondchamber, a restricted port through which the second chamber is chargedwith fluid under pressure from the signal pipe, a restricted portthrough which the first chamber is charged with fluid under pressurefrom said second chamber, a valve for venting fluid from said firstchamber to said second chamber, and a valve for venting fluid from saidsecond chamber to operate a signal device.

4. In a fluid pressure signal system, the combination with a trainsignal pipe, of a signal valve device comprising a diaphragm subject tothe opposing pressures of the signal pipe and a chamber, a secondchamber, a restricted port through which the second chamber is chargedwith fluid under pressure from the signal pipe, a restricted portthrough which the first chamber is charged with fluid under pressurefrom said second chamber, a valve for venting fluid from said firstchamber to said second chamber, and a valve for venting fluid from saidsecond chamber tooperate a signal device, both valves being operatedsimultaneously by said diaphragm.

5. In a fluid pressure signal system, the combination with a trainsignal pipe, of a signal valve device comprising a diaphragm subject tothe opposing pressures of the signal pipe and a chamber, a secondchamber, a restricted port through which the second chamber is chargedwith fluid under pressure from the signal pipe, a restricted portthrough which the first chamber is charged with fluid under pressurefrom said second chamber, a stem carried by said diaphragm and extendingthrough said chambers, a valve for venting fluid from said first chamherto said second chamber, and a valve for venting fluid from said secondchamber to operate a signal device, both valves being carried'by saidstem.

6. In a fluid pressure signal system, the combination with a trainsignal pipe, of a signal valve device comprising a diaphragm subject tothe opposing pressures of the signal pipe and a chamber, a secondchamber adapted to be charged with fluid under pressure from the signalpipe, a restricted port through which the first chamber is charged withfluid under pressure from said second chamber, a stem carried by saiddiaphragm, an opening in said stem providing a communication from thefirst chamber to the second chamber, a valve mounted in the stem forcontrolling the communication from the first chamber to thesecondchamber, a ball check valve also mounted in the stem to preventlack flow through the communication ,from the second chamber to thefirst chamber, and

a second valve carried by the stem for vent 3 ing fluid from the secondchamber to operate a signal device. 1

7. In a fluid pressure signal system,- the combination with a trainsignal pipe, ofa

signal vaive device comprising a diaphragm subject to the opposingpressures of the signal pipe and a chamber, a second chamber adapted tobe charged with fluid under pres,- sure from the signal pipe, said firstchamber being adapted tobe charged with fluid-under pressure from saidsecond chamber, a stem. carried by said diaphragm, an opening throughsaid stem, providing a communication from the first chamber to'thesecond chamber, a valve for controlling the communication through saidopening, a ball check valve for preventing back flow from the sec-.

ond chamber to the first chamber when said valve is open, and a secondvalve for controlling a communication from the second chamber to asignal indication device.

8. In a fluid pressure signal system, the combination with a trainsignal pipe, of a signal valve device comprising a diaphragm subject tothe opposing pressures of a signal pipe and a chamber, a second chamberadapt- 'ed to be charged with fluid under pressure from the signal pipe,said first chamber be ing adapted to be charged with fluid underpressure from said second chamber, a stem carried by said diaphragm andextending through said chambers, an opening in said stem, providing acommunication from the first chamber to the second chamber, a valve forcontrolling the communication from the first chamber to the secondchamber, and a second valve for controlling a communication throughwhich fluid is supplied from the second chamber to operatea signaldevice, both of said valves being carried by said dia phragm stem.

9. In a fluid pressure signal system, the combination with a trainsignal pipe, oi a signal valve device comprising a diaphragm subject tothe opposing pressures of a signal pipe and a chamber, a second chamberadapted to be charged with fluld under pressure from the signal pipe,means for charging said with fluid under pressure from said secondchamber, a stem connecting said diaphragms, a signal controlling valvecarried by said stem, and another valve carried by said stem forcontrollinga communication from said I first chamber to said secondchamber;

l l. In a fluid pressure signal system, the combination with a trainsignal pipe, of a signal valve device comprising a diaphragm subject tothe opposing pressures of the signalpipe and a chamber, a seconddiaphragm separating-said chamber from a second chamber, means forcharging the second chamber with fluid under pressure from said signalpipe at a restricted rate, means for-charging the first chamber withfluid under pressure from said second chamber at a rate restricted morethan that which said second chamber is charged, a-stem connecting saiddiaphragms, a valve mounted in said stem for controlling a communicationfrom said first chamber to said second chambeigand a signal controllingval ve also carried by said stem.

12. ln a fluid pressure signal system, the

combination with a train signal pipe, of a signal valve devicecomprising a diaphragm subject to the opposing pressures of the signalpipe'an-d a chamber, a second diaphragm separatingsaid chamber from asecond chamber, means for charging said second-chamber with fluid underpressure from the signal pipe, means for charging said first chamberwith; fluid under pressure rromsaid second chamber, a stem connectingsaid diaphragms,

avalve mounted said stem for controlling a communication from said firstchamber to said second chamber, a ball check valve for preventing backflow through the stem from thesecond chamber, and a signal controllingvalve also carried by said stem.

13; In a fluid pressure signal system, the

combination with a train signal pipe, of a.

signal valve device comprising a signal controlling valve, a diaphragm,subject to the opposing pressures of the signal pipe and a chamber, forOperating said valve, a valve operated upon movement of said diaphragmto open said signal valve for venting fluid from said chamber,aprojection carried by said diaphragm, and a spring engaging saidprojection for resisting the movement of said diaphragin' in thedirection in which the valves are operated.

14. In a fluid pressure signal system, the combination Wltll'il trainsignal pipe, of a signal valve device comprising a :dia-pl'iragm subjectto-the' opposing pressures of the signal pipe'and a chamber, a signalcontrolling valve adapted to be operated by said -diapliragm, and an"adjustabl'e'stop for limiti'ng the movement oft-he diaphragm in t'hedirecticnin which said valve is opened? 15. In a fluid pressure signalsystem, the combination with a train signal pipe, of a signalvalvedevice comprising a diaphragm subject to'the opposing pressures ofthe sig-- nalpipe and a chamber, a valve for venting fluid from saidchamber, said valve being carried by the diaphragm, and an adjustablestop for limiting the'movement' ofthe dia phragrm,

' '1-6. In afluid pressure signalsystem, the" combination with a trainsignal pipe, of a signal-valve device comprising "a plurality of Valves,a flexible diaphragm, subject to the opposingpressuresof the signal pipeand a chamber, fonoperating said valves, and a spring for opposingtliedeflection of 'said diaphragm in the direction in; which said valvesareopened. V

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. this=13th day of May,1930. i Y? JOSEPH C. lWoCUNE.

lit

